Folding crate.



No. 647,|34. Patented Apr. ID, |900.

A. L. FEms. l FOLDING CRATE.

(Application led June 14, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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3o View of Fig. 1.

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" rrrc" PATENT FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. Self/3134, dated .April l, 1906.

I Application iiled June 14, 1899. Serial No. 720,488. (No model.) v

Improvements in Folding Crates, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention rela-tes to improvements in 1o folding crates or racks adapted for shipping articles of merchandise of various kinds.

My object is to produce a crate or coop which is adapted to be folded so as to occupy a minimum amount of space when not in use I5 or, when desirable, to ship from one place to another and at the same time adapted to be extended and put into use at a moments notice,cheap and durable in its construction,and of great utility; and to that end my invention zo consists of the several new and novel features of construction which are hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in the claim hereunto annexed.

It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure l is a side view of the cratecomplete extended and ready for use. Fig. 2 is an end View thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan Fig. t is a section on line X X, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line Y Y, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an end View of the crate folded or in its knocked-down position.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

4o connect the upper pair of bars with the lower pair, the upper pair forming the top and the lower pair the bottom. The end bars b are concaved or rounded out at their ends, as shown at b', so as to form, with the strap c, a

socket in which the end of the bars or tenons a can rotate. The lower pair of bars forming the bottom are provided with a bottom piece e, or it may consist of spindles similar to the sides of the crate, and to this bottom are hinged end pieces f, which may be folded down and rest upon the bottom e, as shown in Fig. 4, and then by pressing laterally upon the upper frame-bars the crate will collapse and assume the position shown in Fig. 4.. The crate is made rigid by raising up the end pieces, where they assumel the position as shown in Fig. 5 and are held by a button y.

In order that the end pieces may rigidly brace the upper portion of the coop in position when it is ready for use, the inner lower edges of the upper pair of bars b are recessed, as shown at nefs@ as to receive the top edges of the end pieces f, and to make sure that these end pieces do not drop down into the position shown in Fig. 4t and thus allow the coop to collapse, as shown in Fig. d, the end of one of the sliding frames y, which form the top, is made to bear against the end piece at that end of the coop, while the other is locked in position by means of the catch g. Should the end piece which is held by the sliding frame y be loosened by the movement of the frame, the other end is held by the catch g, and should the catch not be turned down the end of the sliding frame bearing against the piece j at the other end will prevent the coop from collapsing.

I do not limit myself to any particular means of inclosing the various sides, ends, or bottom of the crate, as it would be evident that it could be made of lattice-work or solid work, only that it would be necessary to provide a strip across the bottom of each end to which the end pieces are hinged. It will also be evident that it may be used for a fruitcrate by turning up one of the end pieces and allowing the other one to remain dormant against the bottom.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

In a folding crate, the solid bottom c, the lower pair of bars b rigidly secured thereto, the bars a having the round ends c, and the straps c by means of which the bars a, b, are loosely connected, combined with the crossbars b at the upper portion of the frame, and which are provided with the grooves @c in their inner lower edges, the end pieeesfeonneoted of the end pieces in position, substantialiy as to the bottom piece and having; their upper shown and described. 1o edges adapted to catch in the grooves suit- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my able rods or spindles by means of Which the hand this 3d day of June, 1899.

bars o are connected, the button g for seour- ARTHUR L. FERRIS.

ing one of the end pieces in position, andthe Witnesses:

sliding frames y which form the top of the D. C. WHEELER,

coop, and one of which is adapted to 100k one M. R. COLEMAN. 

